Health Tip: Manage Pain Without Drugs

Oct. 15 -- (HealthDay News) -- Pain-relieving medications offer relief for many people with sudden or chronic pain. But these drugs have their own risks and potential side effects.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of pain-relieving alternatives to medication:

• Applying heat.
• Applying ice or a cold compress.
• Massaging the area.
• Getting sufficient rest.
• Using relaxation techniques.
• Using biofeedback, which teaches you how to gain partial control over certain physiological processes, including blood pressure and heart rate.